Report: Troubling texts at Va. Islamic school

[spaceboots06]

The books say it’s OK for Muslims to kill adulterers and converts

McLEAN, Va. - Textbooks at a private Islamic school in northern Virginia teach students that it is permissible for Muslims to kill adulterers and converts from Islam, according to a federal investigation released Wednesday.

Other passages in the school's textbooks state that "the Jews conspired against Islam and its people" and that Muslims are permitted to take the lives and property of those deemed "polytheists."

The passages were found in selected textbooks used during the 2007-08 school year by the Islamic Saudi Academy, which teaches 900 students in grades K-12 at two campuses in Alexandria and Fairfax and receives much of its funding from the Saudi government.

The academy has come under scrutiny from critics who allege that it fosters an intolerant brand of Islam similar to that taught in the conservative Saudi kingdom. In the review, the panel recommended that the school make all of its textbooks available to the State Department so changes can be made before the next school year.

School was recommended for closure
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a panel formed by Congress, last year recommended that the school be closed amid concerns that it promotes violence and too closely mimics the conservative Saudi educational system.

The commission made its recommendation last year to close the school even though it had not reviewed the textbooks. Now that some have been reviewed, "we feel more confident that the potential problems we flagged before really are there," said the commission's spokeswoman, Judith Ingram.

School officials have long denied that the academy fosters intolerance. It has acknowledged that some of the Saudi textbooks contain harsh language, but says that the texts have improved in recent years and are revised as needed by the academy before being distributed to students.

More at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25106145/

Just a couple facts I gathered while watching the news
-The Valedictorian of '93 (I think it was '93) is in prison for trying to assassinate Bush.
-Israel is not on their maps.
-In 9th grade the "students" are taught how to properly punish someone- i.e. where to cut someone's hand or foot off when said person commits a crime.
-The principle was arrested in the past for not reporting child abuse when a five year old girl went to him for help. He brought the girl back home and told the father to set her straight.

This place should be closed down!

[Don't panic]

ridiculous.
another reason why teaching should be done in public schools without any religious crap pumped into it

[r6girl]

Given the nature of this thread and the type of discussion that will likely ensue, I've moved it to the Politics, Religion, and Social Issues forum.

[Ugg]

I agree with Don't Panic. Religious schools are dangerous to the student and to society. If religious fanatics feel their children need to be brainwashed with their religion of the day, then they can do it at home or outside of school. Forcing their children to grow up to be freaks is not the answer.

[Surely]

^^^^I went to a Jewish/Hebrew school up to the 8th grade, and I turned out just fine.
I'm not a crazy religious extremist. Actually, I'm quite secular (Oy vey!).

Religious schools just need to be monitored and regulated so that extremism isn't taught to innocent children.

[Dmac77]

ridiculous.
another reason why teaching should be done in public schools without any religious crap pumped into it

I agree with Don't Panic. Religious schools are dangerous to the student and to society. If religious fanatics feel their children need to be brainwashed with their religion of the day, then they can do it at home or outside of school. Forcing their children to grow up to be freaks is not the answer.

Yeah, because those private Catholic schools are just pumping out crazy religious fanatics. Those nuns are telling kids that they need to start another crusade. Seriously, how do people come up with stuff like this?

And as to public schools, they're just great. Lower GPAs, and SAT/ACT scores, then those darn private schools.

Oh, I forgot, most of them aren't unionized. The horror.

Anyways, this school needs to be shut down, and any other school that says that encourages Sharia law needs to be shut down.

Don

[.Andy]

Yeah, because those private Catholic schools are just pumping crazy religious fanatics.
That is the whole idea of private religious schools. To indoctrinate children whist sheltering them from alternate views. And it works.

The fact that parents are willing to fork out $$$ to do so and in the process attain better grades for their children by no means justifies rreligious isolation by any sect.

[Dmac77]

That is the whole idea of private religious schools. To indoctrinate children whist sheltering them from alternate views.

The fact that parents are willing to fork out excessive $$$ to do so and in the process attain better grades by no means justifies rreligious isolation by any sect.

It has nothing to do with that. I USED to go to a catholic school (5th to 8th grade), and their were Jewish kids that went to the school, because of the better education. There were a few baptists there too. Come to think of it, I would say that only 50% of the kids were Catholic.

It has nothing to do with isolation from other view points (most of the time), but more to so with getting a better education for your child.

Don

[.Andy]

It has nothing to do with isolation from other view points (most of the time), but more to so with getting a better education for your child.
So there was no catholic religious education at your school?

[Dmac77]

So there was no catholic religious education at your school?

There was, but they still have to follow state guidelines, when it comes to teaching. We still learned about other religious view points, and they stayed away from issues like abortion, homosexuality, and things like that, because they recognized that there are people with many different view points in the school.

Don

[.Andy]

There was
Of course there was. And it has no place in schools. It's there to indoctrinate.

We still learned about other religious view points
Through the eyes of cathol.

and they stayed away from issues like abortion, homosexuality, and things like that, because they recognized that there are people with many different view points in the school.
Or alternatively because these weren't consistent with catholic teaching.

[Surely]

The fact that parents are willing to fork out $$$ to do so and in the process attain better grades for their children by no means justifies rreligious isolation by any sect.

Just wanted to address that one point.

You seem to be implying that better grades are automatic and paid for by parents of children attending religious schools. In my experience, the school I went to was much more challenging than the public school some of my friends went to. In fact, when I switched out of the private school and into public school in grade 8, it was way easier. I didn't have to work as hard- I wasn't challeged as much. The workload was lighter.
To generalize that grades are bought is just inaccurate.

[CorvusCamenarum]

ridiculous.
another reason why teaching should be done in public schools without any religious crap pumped into it

What about non-religious private schools?

[.Andy]

You seem to be implying that better grades are automatic and paid for by parents of children attending religious schools.
Not at all. Better grades are in part an outcome of teaching talent and resources. Both of which are achieved with money which the majority (if not all) private schools have in abundance over public schools. However good grades at private school are not guaranteed by any means as I'm sure everyone can attest anecdotally.

To generalize that grades are bought is just inaccurate.
I agree.

[steve2112]

Not at all. Better grades are in part an outcome of teaching talent and resources. Both of which are achieved with money which the majority (if not all) private schools have in abundance over public schools. However good grades at private school are not guaranteed by any means as I'm sure everyone can attest anecdotally.



Not really. Public schools tend to have more money, but they are much less efficient than private schools. Private schools only have the money generated from their tuition, fees, etc. Public schools can lobby their friendly, local legislature with the rallying cry "But, it's for the CHILDREN!" and get more money. In most states, K-12 education is the last thing to be cut in times of crisis. I won't even get into the federal funding.

Of course, that federal funding comes at a price, though things like No Child Left Behind. How inefficient are public schools? In my state, for example, almost 60% of the state budget is spent on education, yet we remain near the bottom in education rankings, mostly due to terribly inefficient management of schools. I have no reason to think other states are any different. They just tend to have more money to throw at the problem.

My experience with Catholic schools is similar to Dmac77. There were kids from every religion in the Catholic school in my hometown. I'm pretty sure most of them didn't get indoctrinated and convert to Catholicism.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. This school should be shut down, but I doubt that would do much good. There would be another opened up to take its place elsewhere.

[leekohler]

Disgusting. Once again, the ugly side of religion surfaces.

What about non-religious private schools?

Who can afford those?

[yg17]

Yeah, because those private Catholic schools are just pumping out crazy religious fanatics. Those nuns are telling kids that they need to start another crusade. Seriously, how do people come up with stuff like this?

And as to public schools, they're just great. Lower GPAs, and SAT/ACT scores, then those darn private schools.

Oh, I forgot, most of them aren't unionized. The horror.

Anyways, this school needs to be shut down, and any other school that says that encourages Sharia law needs to be shut down.

Don

I went to a public school and turned out fine. It was an excellent school and better than many private schools in the area. Just because the public schools up by you may be crappy doesn't mean all of them are.

I wouldn't send my kids to a private school, it's a huge waste of money. I'd rather use that money to live out in the suburbs were public schools tend to be just as good as private ones.

[leekohler]

I went to a public school and turned out fine. It was an excellent school and better than many private schools in the area. Just because the public schools up by you may be crappy doesn't mean all of them are.

I wouldn't send my kids to a private school, it's a huge waste of money. I'd rather use that money to live out in the suburbs were public schools tend to be just as good as private ones.

I did too. My school was, and still is excellent.

[Wotan31]

^^^^I went to a Jewish/Hebrew school up to the 8th grade, and I turned out just fine.
Of course. You weren't taught to observe the barbaric and disgusting Sharia Law that is the basis of many Islamic schools.

I agree with OP that place should absolutely be closed down. Problem is the lawmakers only see the $$$. That school is funded by the Saudi Government. VA lawmakers only see the Millions of $$ being poured into their state economy by the Saudi's, creating construction jobs to build the place, etc.

ALL schools, public or private should have their curriculum closely monitored to keep this kind of crap out. :mad:

[Wotan31]

I agree with Don't Panic. Religious schools are dangerous to the student and to society. If religious fanatics feel their children need to be brainwashed with their religion of the day, then they can do it at home or outside of school. Forcing their children to grow up to be freaks is not the answer.
It has nothing to do with "Religious" schools. I went to a Catholic High School. And I'm not even Catholic! They didn't try and brainwash me, convert me, or any other nonsense like that.

This has to do with Islamic schools, specifically those that teach Sharia Law. No other Religious schools or colleges teach you to chop off limbs as punishment. No other Religious schools teach you that Israel does not exist. Heck, under Sharia Law, women are considered property that can be bought sold and traded. Women are not allowed to drive a car or vote or go to school. If a women is raped in Saudia Arabia, SHE is tried and found guilty - it's HER fault for putting herself in that situation!

Sharia Law is pure evil and any school that preaches it should be shut down and the proprietors arrested.

[djellison]

This, quite obviously, is totally unacceptable teaching material.

For a little balance, however, might I suggest people check the bible - a book you'll find in just about every school in the western world I would expect. It's teachings regarding adultery are no different to those mentioned above. It's got great things to say about menstruation as well. Homosexuality comes out smelling less than rose like as well. Sort of bludgeoned to death, really.

RELIGION FTW.

:rolleyes:

[Surely]

This, quite obviously, is totally unacceptable teaching material.

For a little balance, however, might I suggest people check the bible - a book you'll find in just about every school in the western world I would expect.

You won't find the bible in public schools in Canada or the US. :confused:


I agree that this school needs to be shut down.

[Badandy]

Who can afford those?

People who have the money?


I wouldn't send my kids to a private school, it's a huge waste of money. I'd rather use that money to live out in the suburbs were public schools tend to be just as good as private ones.

Huge waste of money? Look, I live in the suburbs and the private school I went to is/was far better than the public schools in the area. My parents decided that spending the extra money was worth it, and I'm hugely appreciative for where they had their priorities. We had 100% of the students in my graduating class accepted to four-year universities. The average test scores were far higher and learning in an environment with small class sizes, smart students, and top-notch teachers was very advantageous to me. The public schools around me were generally rated well but, for political reasons, they engaged in bussing. They bussed inner-city kids over an hour to public schools near me because of the cries that inner-city schools weren't as good and it was disciminatory to not bus. Want to guess what happened? Vandalism and crime, in a place that never really had vandalism and crime. Declining academic standards, expansion of remedial classes at the expense of more advanced ones, and the list goes on...

[spaceboots06]

I went to a Catholic middle school from grades 7-8, a Jesuit high school and a private university. I learned absolutely nothing in 6th grade because public education is nonsense. I honestly remember learning nothing. I'm not sure about the national statistics but my guess is that 30% of public school students drop out. I probably would have.

And I do also remember my high school not teaching religion too deeply. Yes, it was a mandatory course but it was more about making peace with yourself and finding what you're meant to do with your life. They tried to make it open ended just in case a student wasn't whatever religion they taught. Mass was mandatory, too; they just didn't force you to salute the cross or whatever that father-son-holy spirit maneuver is called.

[yg17]

Huge waste of money? Look, I live in the suburbs and the private school I went to is/was far better than the public schools in the area. My parents decided that spending the extra money was worth it, and I'm hugely appreciative for where they had their priorities. We had 100% of the students in my graduating class accepted to four-year universities. The average test scores were far higher and learning in an environment with small class sizes, smart students, and top-notch teachers was very advantageous to me. The public schools around me were generally rated well but, for political reasons, they engaged in bussing. They bussed inner-city kids over an hour to public schools near me because of the cries that inner-city schools weren't as good and it was disciminatory to not bus. Want to guess what happened? Vandalism and crime, in a place that never really had vandalism and crime. Declining academic standards, expansion of remedial classes at the expense of more advanced ones, and the list goes on...

From K-12 I attended schools that bussed in students. Yeah, they were problematic at times and many didn't make it all the way through, but we never really had any crime or vandalism, they didn't take away from the learning experience, we just learned to ignore them. Besides, by the time we got to high school, even middle school in some cases, the ones that performed poorly were in the lower level classes while the good students were in the higher level classes or honors classes and we never even saw them. I'm not sure what you consider small class size, but I don't think there were ever more than 25 students in a class (and on any given day there would always be a few absent) and I didn't think it was too many either. It was certainly better than college where I had some lectures with 2 or 3 hundred students.

Anyone at my school who wanted to do well did well, and I had several students in my graduating class who went on to MIT, Harvard, Yale, etc. The students who didn't want to do well didn't even try; they had no motivation, and I don't think private school would help that. A private school has the advantage of not having the unmotivated students as a nuisance, but you really learn to just ignore them and they don't have much of an effect.

[Burnsey]

Of course. You weren't taught to observe the barbaric and disgusting Sharia Law that is the basis of many Islamic schools.

I agree with OP that place should absolutely be closed down. Problem is the lawmakers only see the $$$. That school is funded by the Saudi Government. VA lawmakers only see the Millions of $$ being poured into their state economy by the Saudi's, creating construction jobs to build the place, etc.

ALL schools, public or private should have their curriculum closely monitored to keep this kind of crap out. :mad:

The Jewish version of Sharia is called Halakha. Whether this is taught in Jewish schools I dont know.

Any school or version of Islam backed or funded by Saudis is questionable, as they have taken a lot of liberties with that religion. Of course it is very easy to derive very similar things out of Christian or Jewish texts, but in the modern world many of those aspects of religion have been deemed as outdated and irrelevant. The Saudis apparently disagree.

However I doubt most of these kids who are growing up in a more liberal and secular society will take any of these teachings to heart. It's like back in highschool where most classes were met with "what is the point of this" and "how will this help my life" and all the other questions kids used to degrade classes.

[Badandy]

However I doubt most of these kids who are growing up in a more liberal and secular society will take any of these teachings to heart. It's like back in highschool where most classes were met with "what is the point of this" and "how will this help my life" and all the other questions kids used to degrade classes.

There's a difference between the teaching derivatives being met with "how is this going to help me in life" and teaching that it's ok (and sometimes even required) to hurt people for what we consider minor offenses. I mean, the stuff this place teaches is vile. I see it more as a problem with extreme religious schools rather than just religious schools. Most of the private schools that I know of technically have a religious affiliation even though the student body is comprised of all faiths with their fair share of atheists.

[.Andy]

Not really. Public schools tend to have more money, but they are much less efficient than private schools.
By and large individual public schools don't have as much disposable income to invest per student as private schools. Nor do they attract the religious dollar to invest in eponymously named infrastructure. What you're arguing here is that you think running schools as a private entity is more efficient than a large public organisation.

How inefficient are public schools? In my state, for example, almost 60% of the state budget is spent on education, yet we remain near the bottom in education rankings, mostly due to terribly inefficient management of schools.
That doesn't illustrate that they're inefficient by any means. It's one possible explanation. What is the breakdown of that 60%? What percentage goes to public school teachers and infrastructure?

My experience with Catholic schools is similar to Dmac77. There were kids from every religion in the Catholic school in my hometown. I'm pretty sure most of them didn't get indoctrinated and convert to Catholicism.
I'm sure they don't take in kids of other religions for that reason either. They do it for the other wonderful driver of catholocism. Money.

[Burnsey]

There's a difference between the teaching derivatives being met with "how is this going to help me in life" and teaching that it's ok (and sometimes even required) to hurt people for what we consider minor offenses. I mean, the stuff this place teaches is vile. I see it more as a problem with extreme religious schools rather than just religious schools. Most of the private schools that I know of technically have a religious affiliation even though the student body is comprised of all faiths with their fair share of atheists.

While I agree that what they are teaching is unacceptable, it is important to note the difference between teaching something (i.e. this is how our religion views these subjects) and condoning something (i.e. you should kill the infidels). Many religions treat certain subjects like adultry and homosexuality unacceptably, but this does not stop us or our children from learning about religion's view on things. It is up to society and law to uphold the values that apply to all people regardless of belief or religion.

[opinioncircle]

ridiculous.
another reason why teaching should be done in public schools without any religious crap pumped into it

Couldn't agree more with you. Everytime religion is involved, you know there ain't some good coming out of this period...

[opinioncircle]

I'm sure they don't take in kids of other religions for that reason either. They do it for the other wonderful driver of catholocism. Money.

Completely true. I was in a catholic school and when I said I wasn't baptized, well I got some weird looks. I won't even tell you when I said this is just some well run business :)

[steve2112]

By and large individual public schools don't have as much disposable income to invest per student as private schools. Nor do they attract the religious dollar to invest in eponymously named infrastructure. What you're arguing here is that you think running schools as a private entity is more efficient than a large public organisation.


That doesn't illustrate that they're inefficient by any means. It's one possible explanation. What is the breakdown of that 60%? What percentage goes to public school teachers and infrastructure?


I'm sure they don't take in kids of other religions for that reason either. They do it for the other wonderful driver of catholocism. Money.

I don't doubt that the Catholic schools allow other religions due to money issues. Except for areas with a heavy Catholic population, most schools would never be able to stay open without allowing in other religions.

Here is one study done by the state of Washington on public vs. private school spending. According to this study, public schools spend about $2k more per student. This study doesn't get into results of private vs. public schools, but I still believe private schools tend to be more efficient. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/Centers/education/policynote/04_milewski_publiceducation.html

Here is a more recent link, again from Washington, detailing their education expenditures.

http://washingtonpolicyblog.typepad.com/washington_policy_center_/2009/02/washington-state-is-not-44th-in-per-pupil-spending-on-education.html

[Badandy]

I don't doubt that the Catholic schools allow other religions due to money issues. Except for areas with a heavy Catholic population, most schools would never be able to stay open without allowing in other religions.

Here is one study done by the state of Washington on public vs. private school spending. According to this study, public schools spend about $2k more per student. This study doesn't get into results of private vs. public schools, but I still believe private schools tend to be more efficient. http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/Centers/education/policynote/04_milewski_publiceducation.html

Here is a more recent link, again from Washington, detailing their education expenditures.

http://washingtonpolicyblog.typepad.com/washington_policy_center_/2009/02/washington-state-is-not-44th-in-per-pupil-spending-on-education.html

I'll also add that having multiple schools within districts and states should make the average cost needed to properly educate a child go down, not up. Public school systems are at a huge advantage over private schools that have only one campus.

[Shivetya]

That is the whole idea of private religious schools. To indoctrinate children whist sheltering them from alternate views. And it works.

The fact that parents are willing to fork out $$$ to do so and in the process attain better grades for their children by no means justifies rreligious isolation by any sect.

You obviously don't know what goes on in a Catholic school do you?


First, I went to one till eight grade. Guess what, we learned evolution and all about Darwin. We had heavy loads of math, english, science, and history.

When I got to public school I coasted for years rehashing much of what I went through before. Indoctrinate in a Catholic school? Hardly, a childhood friend who attended with me was Jewish.

Keep your ignorance in your head.

[blackfox]

You obviously don't know what goes on in a Catholic school do you?


First, I went to one till eight grade. Guess what, we learned evolution and all about Darwin. We had heavy loads of math, english, science, and history.

When I got to public school I coasted for years rehashing much of what I went through before. Indoctrinate in a Catholic school? Hardly, a childhood friend who attended with me was Jewish.

Keep your ignorance in your head.

I also went to a catholic school, from grade 8 - 12. We did not learn about evolution. We had mandatory religion classes, all about Christianity (except on quarter about Judaism). We had great English, Math, History and Science Depts, but only insofar as they did not impinge on Catholic precepts.

In many ways, my school functioned as a Prep School, and much of the student body was from well-off families. Children of alumni/parents who donated to the school were often above-reproach for any disciplinary action - where as a pregnant girl and an african-american student were slowly marginalized and coerced by the administration till they left. I will say, I learned a lot about hypocrisy.

In any case, your experience may vary - religious schools can be very different, so be careful not to use such sweeping generalizations in your retorts based purely on anecdotal evidence.

After all, my anecdote can cancel yours out - then where are we?

[mactastic]

Let's close it down. And while we're at it, let's close down any organization that says it's OK to shoot abortion doctors too, mmmkay?

[.Andy]

You obviously don't know what goes on in a Catholic school do you?
Teaching with religious classes thrown in.

First, I went to one till eight grade. Guess what, we learned evolution and all about Darwin.
I look forward to your scientific expertise in evolution threads. But I'm not sure what this has to do with anything. The catholic church's stance on Darwin is relatively progressive for a religious institution.

We had heavy loads of math, english, science, and history.
It shows with your posting insight into complex societal issues and wide ranging knowledge on history and science.

Indoctrinate in a Catholic school? Hardly, a childhood friend who attended with me was Jewish.
And he paid up his cash. Thereby supporting the catholic church. And at the same time being heavily exposed to catholicism. Win-win for cathol.

Keep your ignorance in your head.
If this were a PRSI rule I would have been banned long ago.

[hotzenplotz]

I am so sick of the garbage that is coming from Saudi Arabia. It is not only in this particular example; they are exporting Vahabism like potatoes into poor countries. They build multimilion dollar mosques in poor countries where Vahabism is thought and people are PAID to attend. :mad:

[awmazz]

A private school has the advantage of not having the unmotivated students as a nuisance

And hence the real reason private schools perform better. They have no requirement to take in underperforming students who will lower the average grades compared to a public school. In fact, the one I went to actually pulled the underperformers aside and told them and their parents not to bother coming back next year.

[awmazz]

I am so sick of the garbage that is coming from Saudi Arabia. It is not only in this particular example; they are exporting Vahabism like potatoes into poor countries. They build multimilion dollar mosques in poor countries where Vahabism is thought and people are PAID to attend. :mad:

As opposed to the Christian missionaries and schools over the past couple of centuries? And who still do? Some American Baptist or Methodist group or suchlike even tried to take advantage of the Indonesian tsunami tragedy to build a religious missionary school there for the orphaned surviving children, which pissed off the local Moslem population no end, so it works both ways.

And when it comes to exporting religious hatred and ideals, it can also come in the more insidious form of American religious groups using their wealth to fund local anti-homosexual or transsexual crackpots around the world, including in other less vocally Christian nations like Australia where they successfully assisted a supposed local 'organisation' of two people to dupe the govt of Victoria to close a large medical clinic because the legitimate local groups didn't have the funds or resources to counter their well-funded efforts. A bit like what happened in California with that Proposition 8 thing and the Mormons coming in from outside to push their crap onto others. It happens all the time all around the world, so funding religious intolerance and hatred outside their own borders isn't the sole realm of the Saudis.

[awmazz]

And another thing while I'm at it, in regards to 'troubling text'. There is much in the Bible texts taught to children to concern me as equally troubling. A God who performs collective punishment and genocide re the Great Flood, promotes division and suspicion, re Babel, promotes war by coming to the aid of one side, re the drowning of the Egyptians, requires parents to sacrifice their children to him except where personally exempted, re Abraham, approves of slavery, teaches an eye for an eye vengeance when wrongs are done, the list goes on, is all very troubling to be teaching to children.

And then the confusion in childrens' mind being taught that this God then produces a son who believes in the exact opposite, love they neighbour, turn the other cheek, who sits down with prostitutes instead of burning them all alive in Gomorra, the list goes on, is guaranteed to produce some individual disturbed minds like the Robot in Lost in Space going 'does not compute' before blowing a circuit. ;)

[hotzenplotz]

awmazz, you're missing the point here.
Perpetuating hatred, killing and butchering people is not a way to spread "gods" word, regardless of the circumstances. And on top of that, taking advantage of the poor in such a manner is simply inexcusable - regardless who's doing it.

[yg17]

Let's close it down. And while we're at it, let's close down any organization that says it's OK to shoot abortion doctors too, mmmkay?

Right, if we shut this down, then we need to shut down Westboro Baptist Church and all of these other organizations teaching domestic terrorism.

[Wotan31]

Let's close it down. And while we're at it, let's close down any organization that says it's OK to shoot abortion doctors too, mmmkay?
Those people are equally as loony, no doubt about it. If they were to start a school and teach kids that it's OK to kill abortion doctors, then I agree, that would put them even with this awful Islamic school.

While we're on the subject though, here's another example (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533525,00.html) of Islamic extremism in America that's being permitted to happen. Again, I'm sure the hotel owners hosting this conference are looking only at the $$$ they're getting from their customers, and turning a blind eye to the subject matter.

[Burnsey]

awmazz, you're missing the point here.
Perpetuating hatred, killing and butchering people is not a way to spread "gods" word, regardless of the circumstances. And on top of that, taking advantage of the poor in such a manner is simply inexcusable - regardless who's doing it.

You would think with all the power god has, he wouldnt need anyone to spread his word for him.

[Wotan31]

You would think with all the power god has, he wouldnt need anyone to spread his word for him.
What is that supposed to mean? Kind of a sad position to take, defining yourself that way.

[hotzenplotz]

You would think with all the power god has, he wouldnt need anyone to spread his word for him.

Exactly. People taking what someone says at face value, "gods" word or not, are just as loony as the ones preaching it. Well, the ones preaching it are filing up their mattresses with money, but that is another story.:rolleyes:

[skunk]

While we're on the subject though, here's another example (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533525,00.html) of Islamic extremism in America that's being permitted to happenAre they like the Mormons? :confused:

[opinioncircle]

Those people are equally as loony, no doubt about it. If they were to start a school and teach kids that it's OK to kill abortion doctors, then I agree, that would put them even with this awful Islamic school.

While we're on the subject though, here's another example (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,533525,00.html) of Islamic extremism in America that's being permitted to happen. Again, I'm sure the hotel owners hosting this conference are looking only at the $$$ they're getting from their customers, and turning a blind eye to the subject matter.

Your source is foxnews? Gotta be kidding me...

Oh yeah and you know what other Islamic extremism was allowed in America? Yes, Bush's family ties with Bin Laden's...

[DoNoHarm]

^^^^I went to a Jewish/Hebrew school up to the 8th grade, and I turned out just fine.
I'm not a crazy religious extremist. Actually, I'm quite secular (Oy vey!).

Religious schools just need to be monitored and regulated so that extremism isn't taught to innocent children.

the problem is how you define extremism. As a supporter of LGBT rights, I would consider many sermons at churches and their affiliated schools hate speech. So do you want to close them down too?

Oh yeah.... that whole free speech thing applies, even in this situation.

[Burnsey]

What is that supposed to mean? Kind of a sad position to take, defining yourself that way.

People can and do corrupt "god's word" to best fit their own interests and prejudices while they are spreading it. It's also like a chain of people sitting side by side, at one end a guy whispers something in the ear of another, and it travels down the line with each person whispering to the next and at the end you have something completely different.

[steve knight]

Right, if we shut this down, then we need to shut down Westboro Baptist Church and all of these other organizations teaching domestic terrorism.

except for the kids getting taught by the stupid parents they are harmless for the most part. I don't think they are well liked by anyone.

[chstr]

Of course, that federal funding comes at a price, though things like No Child Left Behind. How inefficient are public schools? In my state, for example, almost 60% of the state budget is spent on education, yet we remain near the bottom in education rankings, mostly due to terribly inefficient management of schools.
we are talking about Mississippi no?

[steve2112]

we are talking about Mississippi no?

Yeah, the shining example of how NOT to run a public school system. We have 120+ school districts for a state of around 3 mil people. Some districts have 2 schools in them, yet they all have their own admin staff. Every time the issue of consolidation comes up, residents and elected officials get bent out of shape. They would prefer to simply throw more money at it, even though we already spend almost 60% of our entire state budget on education.

[Zombie Acorn]

Yeah, because those private Catholic schools are just pumping out crazy religious fanatics. Those nuns are telling kids that they need to start another crusade. Seriously, how do people come up with stuff like this?

And as to public schools, they're just great. Lower GPAs, and SAT/ACT scores, then those darn private schools.


people who have money to pay private schools are usually much more educated and most likely qualified to teach curriculum themselves if they were forced. Public schools endure kids who's parents may have not even passed high school.

Let's not kid ourselves here.

[chstr]

Yeah, the shining example of how NOT to run a public school system. We have 120+ school districts for a state of around 3 mil people. Some districts have 2 schools in them, yet they all have their own admin staff. Every time the issue of consolidation comes up, residents and elected officials get bent out of shape. They would prefer to simply throw more money at it, even though we already spend almost 60% of our entire state budget on education.

I was being a little facetious :p but curious... how well are teachers paid there?

edit; nm I just googled it and ....OMG where IS the money going???? definitely not to the teachers